Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (November 30, 1918 – May 2, 2014) was an American actor and theatre producer. Known for his "mellifluous voice and air of sophistication," he was known to television audiences for his starring roles on the crime drama series 77 Sunset Strip (1958–64) and The F.B.I. (1965–74), his recurring role as "Dandy Jim" Buckley on Maverick (1957–58), and as the voice of Alfred Pennyworth in the DC Animated Universe. He also appeared in numerous films and on the Broadway stage. ) and a two-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee.

He was the son of classical musicians Efrem Zimbalist and Alma Gluck, and the father of actress Stephanie Zimbalist. In addition to his acting career, Zimbalist was also a decorated veteran of the Second World War, receiving both the Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals. In 1994, Zimbalist received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to television.

Early life Zimbalist was born on November 30, 1918, in Brooklyn, to Jewish immigrants Efrem Zimbalist (1889–1985), a famous Russian-born violinist and symphony conductor, and Alma Gluck (1884–1938), an equally famous Romanian-born operatic soprano. He had an older sister, Mary (1915–2008), along with a half-sister from his mother's first marriage, author Marcia Davenport (1903–1996). His stepmother was Mary Louise Curtis, the founder of the Curtis Institute of Music. Both parents converted to Anglican Christianity and regularly attended the Episcopal Church. Zimbalist Jr. attended Fay School in Southborough, Massachusetts.

Zimbalist boarded at St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, taking part in school plays. He briefly attended Yale University but was expelled, reinstated and expelled a second time on account of low grades. before serving in the United States Army during World War II, where he became friends with writer and director Garson Kanin.

Military service Zimbalist was drafted in 1941. Inducted into the United States Army, he completed his initial training at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Selected for officer candidate school, after graduation in 1943 he received his commission as a second lieutenant of Infantry. Zimbalist was assigned as a platoon leader in Company L, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division and participated in combat in Europe following the Normandy landings.

In 1959, he was awarded the Golden Globe for "Most Promising Newcomer – Male".

The F.B.I. television series

Apart from 77 Sunset Strip, Zimbalist was most widely known for his starring role as Inspector Lewis Erskine in the Quinn Martin television production The F.B.I., which premiered on September 19, 1965, and aired its final episode on April 28, 1974. Zimbalist was generous in his praise of producer Martin and of his own experience starring in the show. Those who worked with him were equally admiring of the star's professionalism and likable personality.

Zimbalist maintained a strong personal relationship with FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, who requested that the show be technically accurate and portray his agents in the best possible light, and he insisted actors playing FBI employees undergo a background check. Zimbalist subsequently spent a week in contact with Hoover in Washington, D.C., and at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. The men remained mutual admirers for the rest of Hoover's life. Hoover held up Zimbalist as a model for FBI employees' personal appearance.

The Society of Former Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation honored the character of Lewis Erskine in 1985 with a set of retired credentials,

The show was revived in the 1980s as Today's FBI starring Mike Connors.

Other television work

After 77 Sunset Strip, Zimbalist appeared in other series, including CBS's short-lived The Reporter starring Harry Guardino as journalist Danny Taylor of the fictitious New York Globe. He also appeared in leading and supporting roles in several feature films, including Harlow, A Fever in the Blood (a film about a ruthless politician), Wait Until Dark and Airport 1975.

Zimbalist had a recurring role as Daniel Chalmers, a white-collar con man, on his daughter Stephanie Zimbalist's 1980s television detective series Remington Steele. He also recurred in the television dramatic series Hotel.

In 1990, Zimbalist portrayed the father of Zorro in the Christian Broadcasting Network's The New Zorro. Zimbalist relinquished the role after the program's first season because of the filming at studios outside Madrid, Spain, and the role subsequently went to Henry Darrow. He had a small recurring role in the 1990s hit science fiction television series Babylon 5 as William Edgars.

Also in the 1990s, Zimbalist voiced Alfred Pennyworth in Batman: The Animated Series. He reprised the role in subsequent media set in the DC Animated Universe, including Superman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures, Justice League, and Static Shock. He said being Alfred had "made me an idol in my little grandchildren’s eyes.” Zimbalist also played villain Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man: The Animated Series. He appeared on the Trinity Broadcasting Network and as himself in the 1998 Smithsonian Institution production of Gemstones of America. He performed as the narrator in "Good Morning, America" by Elinor Remick Warren.

Zimbalist wrote an autobiography, My Dinner of Herbs, published by Limelight Editions, New York.

In 2008, Zimbalist appeared in the short film The Delivery, in which he played a professor who helps a young girl in her struggles for literacy. The film won first place in fantasy at the Dragon*Con Film Festival and was an official selection at the Los Angeles International Children's Festival and the Reel Women International Film Festival in 2009.

Personal life

In December 1941, Zimbalist married Emily Munroe McNair. They had two children, Efrem "Skip" Zimbalist III (b. 1947) and Nancy (1944–2012). In January 1950, Emily died from cancer.

On February 12, 1956, at New Hartford, Connecticut, Zimbalist married Loranda Stephanie Spalding, daughter of Francis Lecompte Spalding, United States Consul General in Seville, Spain, and a granddaughter of Edgar L. G. Prochnik, former Austrian Minister to the United States. They had a daughter, future actress Stephanie Zimbalist. In December 1961, AP News reported that Mrs Zimbalist had gained an uncontested divorce in Los Angeles, testifying that her husband had shown her "little love or affection" in five years of marriage.

On February 5, 2007, Loranda died from lung cancer, aged 73. Zimbalist said his faith gave him comfort when Emily died.

He had a nine-year association with the practice of Transcendental Meditation as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Zimbalist described the Maharishi Yogi as a "fascinating character", but found the meditation method "... was a total waste of energy for me."

In the late 1970s, he was drawn to the Charismatic Christianity movement. His first association was with Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Bakker's PTL ministry. For several years, he was a member of the PTL board. PTL's principal televangelistic successor, the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), He later distanced himself from Charismatic Christanity, saying in 1989, "for a while I did go overboard in my association with a fundamentalist group".

In later life, Zimbalist joined the congregation of an Episcopal parish near to his home. Afterward he joined the Anglican Church of Our Savior in Santa Barbara; he was an occasional reader there and requested donations be made to them (among others) in his obituary.

Political views In 1963 and 1964, Zimbalist joined fellow actors William Lundigan, Chill Wills and Walter Brennan in making appearances on behalf of U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater, the Republican candidate, in his election campaign against U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Death Zimbalist died at the age of 95, on May 2, 2014, from natural causes.

Filmography

Film YearTitle Role NotesRefs 1949 House of Strangers Tony Monetti Film noir directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz 1957 Band of Angels Lt. Ethan Sears Romantic drama film directed by Raoul Walsh. Bombers B-52 Colonel Jim Herlihy CinemaScope film directed by Gordon Douglas. 1958 The Deep Six Lt. Blanchard World War II drama film directed by Rudolph Maté, loosely based on a novel of the same name by Martin Dibner. Too Much, Too Soon Vincent Bryant Biographical film directed by Art Napoleon. Violent Road George Lawrence Remake of The Wages of Fear and directed by Howard W. Koch. Girl on the Run Stuart Bailey Home Before Dark Jacob 'Jake' Diamond Drama film directed and produced by Mervyn LeRoy. 1960 The Crowded Sky Dale Heath Drama film directed by Joseph Pevney. 1961 A Fever in the Blood Judge Leland Hoffman Drama film directed by Vincent Sherman. By Love Possessed Arthur Winner Drama film directed by John Sturges. 1962 The Chapman Report Paul Radford Drama film directed by George Cukor. 1965 Harlow William Mansfield Fictionalized drama based on the life of film star Jean Harlow directed by Alex Segal. The Reward Frank Bryant Western film directed by Serge Bourguignon. 1967 Wait Until Dark Sam Hendrix Psychological thriller film directed by Terence Young. 1974 Airport 1975 Captain Stacy Air disaster film and the first sequel to the successful 1970 film Airport and directed by Jack Smight. 1982 The Avenging Jacob Anderson Drama film written and directed by Lyman Dayton. 1991 Hot Shots! Wilson Comedy spoof film of Top Gun directed and co-written by Jim Abrahams. 1993 Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul Narrator Documentary film directed and written by Gregory Orr. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Alfred Pennyworth (voice) 1995 The Street Corner Kids: The Sequel Makenzie Family film directed and written by Margaret Raphael. 1998 Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero Alfred Pennyworth (voice) Direct-to-video superhero animated feature film directed, co-written, and co-produced by Boyd Kirkland. 1999 The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man Doctor Octopus Animated short film directed and co-written by Scott Trowbridge. 2003 Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman Alfred Pennyworth (voice) Direct-to-video animated film directed by . Sugarfoot Kerrigan the Great Episode: "The Wizard" 1958–1964 77 Sunset Strip Stuart Bailey Contract role; 163 episodes 1959–1962 Hawaiian Eye Stuart Bailey 1960 The Alaskans John Conrad Episode: "The Trial of Reno McKee" 1961 Person to Person Himself Episode:"August 11, 1961" Bronco Edwin Booth Episode: "The Prince of Darkness" What About Linda? Himself March of Dimes fund raising program 1962 Here's Hollywood Himself November 2, 1962 1964 The Hollywood Palace Himself Episode: "Host: Efrem Zimbalist Jr." Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Paul Radford Episode: "The Sojourner" The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Stranger Episode: "See the Monkey Dance" The Reporter Charles Durwood Episode: "Super-Star" 1965 Rawhide Jeff McKeever Episode: "The Diehard" Password Himself Episode: "Angie Dickinson vs. Efrem Zimbalist Jr." 1965–1974 The F.B.I. Inspector Lewis Erskine Contract role; 241 episodes 1967 Cosa Nostra, Arch Enemy of the F.B.I. Inspector Lewis Erskine (archive footage) Television film Insight Byron Episode: "Stranger In My Shoes" 1969 Jim Episode: "The Coffee House" 1970 Bergman Episode: "The Day God Died" Don Ford Episode: "He Lived With Us, Ate With Us, What Else, Dear?" Charles de Foucauld Episode: "The Hermit" 1972 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Himself February 16, 1972 1974 Insight Episode: "When You See Arcturus" 1975 Who Is the Black Dahlia? Sgt. Harry Hansen Television film 1978 A Family Upside Down Mike Long Television film Terror Out of the Sky David Martin Television film 30th Primetime Emmy Awards Himself Presenter 1979 The Best Place to Be Bill Reardan Television film The Gathering, Part II Victor Wainwright Television film Insight God Episode: "Checkmate" Episode: "A Family of Winners" 1980 Scruples Ellis Ikehorn Miniseries The Anita Bryant Spectacular Himself 1982 Beyond Witch Mountain Aristotle Bolt Television film Family in Blue Marty Malone Television film 1983 Insight Episode: "The Hit Man" Fantasy Island Mr. Baldwin Episode: "The Butler's Affair/Roarke's Sacrifice" Charley's Aunt Col. Francis Chesney Television film Baby Sister Tom Burroughs Television film Shooting Stars Robert Cluso Television film 1983–87 Remington Steele Daniel Chalmers 1984 The Love Boat Dan Whitman Episode: "Polly's Poker Palace" Hardcastle and McCormick Emmett Parnell Episode: "The Georgia Street Motors" Partners in Crime Grant Latham Episode: "Murder in the Museum" Hotel Alexander Heath Episode: "Flesh and Blood" Cover Up E.G. Dawson Episode: "Writer's Block" You Are the Jury Narrator Episode: "The Case of the People of Florida v Joseph Lamdrum" 1985 Finder of Lost Loves Judge Alex Hale Episode: "Mister Wonderful" 1986 38th Primetime Emmy Awards Himself Presenter: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special You Are the Jury Narrator Episode: "The State of Arizona v Dr. Evan Blake" 1986–88 Hotel Charles Cabot 1988 Hunter Clarence Hyland Episode: "Murder He Wrote" Murder, She Wrote Gen. Havermeyer Episode: "The Last Flight of the Dixie Damsel" 1990 Zorro Don Alejandro de la Vega Contract role; 25 episodes Who's the Boss? Robert Robinson Episode: "Operation Mona" Murder, She Wrote Richard Thompson Grant Episode: "Hannigan's Wake" 1991 Hot Shots: The Making of an Important Movie Himself 1992 Murder, She Wrote Adam Quatrain Episode: "Sugar, Spice, Malice and Vice" 1992–1993 The Legend of Prince Valiant King Arthur (voice) Contract role; 53 episodes

Video games YearTitle RoleRefs 1993 Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers Wolfgang Nov 6, 1946 Feb 21, 1947 King Henry VIII Duke of Suffolk International Theatre Nov 8, 1946 Feb 15, 1947 What Every Woman Knows A Butler, Ensemble International Theatre Dec 19, 1946 Feb 22, 1947 A Pound on DemandAndrocles and the Lion Secutor International Theatre Feb 27, 1947 Mar 15, 1947 Yellow Jack Aristides Agramonte International Theatre May 1, 1947 Nov 1, 1947 The TelephoneThe Medium (producer) Ethel Barrymore Theatre Feb 24, 1948 Mar 6, 1948 Hedda Gabler Eilert Lovborg Cort Theatre Dec 7, 1948 Jan 9, 1949 The Telephone (producer) City Center Dec 7, 1948 Jan 9, 1949 The Medium (producer) City Center Mar 15, 1950 Nov 4, 1950 The Consul (producer) Ethel Barrymore Theatre Jan 17, 1956 Aug 11, 1956 Fallen Angels Maurice Duclos Playhouse Oct 16, 2004 Nov 7, 2004 Night of the Iguana Nonno Rubicon Theatre Company Apr 26, 2007 May 20, 2007 Hamlet The Player King Rubicon Theatre Company